By Al Benson
Dolores Theodore of Aurora, a Burlington Railroad queen in 1959, was in the spotlight again Sunday, July 28.
Theodore was among 70 guests at an Aurora Historical Society (AHS) banquet saluting the Burlington Railroad’s 175th anniversary at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. After John Jaros, AHS executive director and banquet emcee announced a special guest in the crowd, Theodore displayed her 45-year-old sash and received applause.
A Burlington Chicago employee, Theodore won her queen title in 1959 in a contest with 12 coworkers. She said judges chose her in a final competition held at Phillips Park in Aurora.
After welcoming guests, Jaros cited the Burlington’s history from 1859 to its merger with the Santa Fe R.R. in 1996 to form the Burlington Northern Santa Fe R.R. The historic roundhouse was the railroad’s car repair shop from 1856 to 1974. Employment grew from 350 to 2,000 workers when the shops closed in 1974.
After a buffet dinner, Jaros screened the 1934 movie “The Silver Streak” featuring the Pioneer Zephyr, America’s first diesel streamline train. The Pioneer was famous for a 1,015.4-mile non-stop “Dawn-to-Dusk” dash from Denver to Chicago in 13 hours 5 minutes at an average speed of almost 78 m.p.h. Averaging 77.5 miles per hour, the Zephyr peaked at 112.5 m.p.h.
The banquet concluded with awarding of door prizes.
Jaros reminded attendees that the AHS’s Pierce Art and History Center is showcasing railroad artifacts and images in a special display through August 17. Hours of the center are noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.